Piano spectacle and a mellow "New World"

Here's the review:

Only two pianists in North America have the flashy Khachaturian Piano Concerto in their tour repertory, and one of them is Terrence Wilson.

On Friday, Wilson was the soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the blockbuster showpiece, part of a well-matched program that included Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 led by guest conductor Hans Graf. Although it's rarely tackled, the Bronx-born pianist played the concerto here before, in 1995.

Khachaturian's 1936 Concerto can only be described as epic, with movie score-like expansiveness in the orchestra, and feats for the pianist that recall Liszt and Prokofiev. Its folk-like themes have instant appeal. Among its curiosities is the metallic, warbly sound of the flexatone in the slow movement. (However, the CSO's Michael Chertock was playing a synthesizer.)

Wilson, 32, winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, put his prodigious technique to work, balancing keyboard-spanning runs, leaps and massive chords with moments of quiet introspection. A thoughtful pianist, he displayed a singing tone and an ear for color in the work’s many cadenzas – lengthy solos that began softly and soon became heaven-storming.

The finale was almost jazzy, and the pianist projected its joy while effortlessly tossing off endless virtuosities. On the podium, Graf led the orchestra well, though orchestra and pianist sometimes strayed apart.

Graf, music director of the Houston Symphony and a native of Austria, was also making a return visit. He opened with three engaging, folkloric tone poems by Anatoly Liadov. They were vivid and glowing, and "Baba Yaga" (depicting the Russian witch) had humorous touches.

Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," filled the second half. Dvorak wrote his Ninth Symphony while living in America, where he was inspired by spirituals and Native American themes. In reality, the "New World" Symphony is firmly rooted in the Old World, and Graf's view reflected that.

Graf is an expressive leader, who communicated warmth and nostalgia. Tempos were relaxed (the scherzo was a bit too slow) and the orchestra was not as immaculate as usual. But no matter how often you hear the slow movement's famous English horn theme, it is always breathtaking, and Christopher Philpotts' performance was no exception.

The concert repeats at 8 p.m. in Music Hall. 513-381-3300.